Dudhsagar Waterfalls … The very name conjures up the iconic image of the train on the bridge (for the Bollywood aficionados – Chennai Express fame) with the majestic Waterfalls at the background. Dudhsagar, as the name suggests, means the ‘Sea of Milk’. For the academically inclined Dudhsagar Waterfalls is one of India's tallest four-tiered waterfalls, located on Mandovi river, in Bhagwan Mahaveer sanctuary and Kulem (Collem) national park among the Western Ghats. It is densely surrounded by deciduous forest with rich biodiversity and forming the border between Karnataka and Goa states.
I never thought I would actually end up seeing Dudhsagar Waterfalls as part of a Trek. At the most, I would have been quite content to just have a glimpse of the waterfall while travelling in that route sometime.
Thanks to Bindaas Travelers, we actually did the trek and did it in style !!!! The fifteen km trek in all covered the majestic Waterfalls up close and personal and the bonus Jungle trail through the beautiful Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary, plus the unique trudge along the railway tracks.
Our journey started routinely enough, boarding train for Pune at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Kurla Terminus) , and getting to know each other along the way. We were joined by few others at Pune and then boarded the onward train from Pune. The optimal group size of eleven ensured Non-stop activity during the entire journey comprising of Dumb Charades, Mafia and lots other random games for others and book reading(!!!!) in my case. some fantastic Sunset photo opportunities too.
Late to bed and early to rise was the mantra. We get off at the railway station as early as 5 in the morning on Sunday and start the onward journey on the Railway tracks. The ‘station’ does not have a platform and hence we carefully descend from the train using the steps. A continuous drizzle and the pitch black surroundings ensure all the flashlights and raincoats are put to good use. An hour’s rail line trek punctuated by an occasional scramble to the sides because of approaching trains brings us to the actual Dudhsagar Falls. We have a fair indication of the Waterfalls as there is a wonderful mist in the air plus the continuous faint roar of the Waterfalls.
We reach the spot well before daybreak and hence are treated to an absolute myriad of colours in the pre day break ... .actual day break. .and post day break periods. Thanks to the delayed arrival of our local guide , we spent a decent period of time at the actual Falls. Photos galore and soaking in the beauty of the Falls was done in abundance.
We eventually started our onward trek. Special mention of the amazing experience of walking through tunnels which we had to pass along the way plus the walking on the tracks too.
We started the jungle trail through the Bahagwaan Mahavir Sanctuary with its magnificent undergrowth and overhang of closely knit boughs. Barring a few places the overgrowth was nice and dense providing a measure of protection from the continuous drizzle. The fabulous exhibition of flora and fauna was a breathtaking sight.
Our intrepid local guide Tukaram apparently took us through many ‘shortcuts’ ensuring we trekked through foliage, knee-deep streams and of course the soggy red soil. The big advantage of having a local guide – the small nuggets that you get. We came across an innocent looking very still body of water called Devil’s Canyon.
Tukaram informed us that it had apparently claimed a lot of lives and that the still surface was deceptive and actually there was a furious undercurrent at that place. We also were made privy to the ‘jurisdiction’ of the local deities and how the loyalties of the locals were divided among their own favourite Gods. The extempore jumping into a mini pool of water and the splashing water games was fun too. 
One would not normally expect to trek through nature parks barefoot, but we had adventurous fellow trekkers try out that too !!!
The breakfast break for the mandatory local cuisine of poha and chai was very much welcome and we were treated to the sight of a magnificent temple with the typical gopuram and a magnificent collage of colours. After trekking on (through shortcuts again) liberally laced with much singing and creative play acting, we reach Base village Kulem for the much-needed changeover into dry clothes and then lunch (local cuisine).
Well fed and watered we then go to Kulem Station where We bid goodbye to our fellow trekkers from Pune The one-hour shuttle train ride to Madgaon station in a practically empty train gives us some much needed rest either by way of snooze or catching up on many trekking stories from everyone.
Madgaon station with its nicely stocked restaurant and magnificent Mario sketches were lovely as always. With the expected delay in the train, Shrikant our trek lead along with enthusiastic participation from few others did their version of a social experiment and regaled the bystanders with a continuous medley of Bollywood numbers.
The initially curious, then amused and subsequently, the impressed audience actually started showering the music ‘band’ with currency notes. ( for the record - The currency notes, of course, were returned back to the givers with considerable difficulty.)
The Matsyagandha Express whose onerous task it is to transport us back to Mumbai arrives at its own pace and we pile on into our Carriages. Without much ado we drift off to a long well deserved sleep to return back the next morning to Mumbai with pleasant memories and memory full of (pun intended) pictures
Thank you, Bindaas Travelers for a fantastically managed event
